MOSCOW: Russia on Tuesday called on Israel to withdraw troops from Lebanon, warning that the attack would lead to a further escalation of violence in the Middle East.

Israel said commando and paratroop units launched raids into Lebanon on Tuesday as part of a "limited" ground incursion, while Iran-backed Hizbollah said it had fired a barrage of missiles into Israel, including at its spy agency near Tel Aviv.

"Russia strongly condemns the attack on Lebanon and calls on the Israeli authorities to immediately cease hostilities, withdraw their troops from Lebanese territory and engage in a real search for peaceful ways to resolve the Middle East conflict," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.

"It is obvious that such a step taken by the Israeli military and political leadership following the assassination of a number of Hizbollah leaders will lead to a further escalation of violence in the Middle East region."

 -Reuters